ON ECONOMIC TRAINING IN THIS AND OTHER COUNTRIES. 371 



testimony to the regard in which eeonoinic studies are held among a large 

 body of students. 



•Seminar instruction is customary, as in Germany. At Vienna there 

 are two seminars, one for Economics (Staatswissenschaftliche), one for 

 Statistics, while in addition there is an Institute of Political Science, 

 attached to all of which are libraries and places for the members to carry 

 on their work in close contact with their professor or his deputy. The 

 members consist in part of young doctors of the university who have 

 recently graduated, in part of those preparing for the examinations of 

 the university, and include, as a rule, several foreigners who have come 

 to Vienna to pursue their studies. The arrangements at the other uni- 

 versities are similar, though in some they lack the completeness displayed 

 at Vienna. 



Students who, having passed their examinations with credit, or other 

 wise performed their work to the satisfaction of their teachers, wish to 

 carry on their studies in other countries are eligible for Reisestipendia 

 (travelling scholarships). These are rewarded to encourage study in 

 foreign universities, or to enable their holders to carry out investigations 

 which necessitate a journey. Unfortunately they are but few in number, 

 and as they are open to students of all faculties, few economists can hope 

 to obtain them. Among the more recent holders in Vienna are Professors 

 Bohm-Bawerk, Robert Meyer, Von Phillipovich, and Dr. Stephen Bauer, 

 the two latter of whom published reports on matters studied abroad. 



In this way a method of economic instruction has been developed in 

 the Austrian universities which not only provides a large number with a 

 carefully systematised series of courses, but offers to those disposed to 

 more thorough or more special study ample opportunity. The more eager 

 and energetic pass through the courses compulsory for the law degree, in 

 themselves a fitting preliminary to more detailed work, to attendance at 

 the special courses and membership of the seminar ; from these they may, 

 if fortunate, advance into the position of travelling or research scholars of 

 their university. Though most of the students at the economic lectures 

 are jurists, the attendance frequently includes members qualifying in 

 other faculties, or even more general ' hearers.' At Krakau, students 

 of the philosophical faculty form some 20 to 25 per cent, of the total. 

 All these students are entirely free so far as their choice of economic 

 courses is concerned. It is not possible to give the exact numbers of 

 the students to be described respectively as elementary and advanced. 

 The particulars, however, furnished by the various universities permit a 

 rough general estimate. Not fewer than one thousand students undergo 

 the more general courses, thus attaining to a fair systematic acquaintance 

 with the main branches of economic study, while out of that number more 

 than two hundred take special courses and enter the various seminars. 

 This account rather under than over estimates the extent to which 

 economic studies extend. As to the character of the advanced work 

 there is no doubt. As has been pointed out, it is of a high order. But 

 .some question has been raised as to the value of the knowledge likely to 

 be attained by the more general student. The variety of subjects required 

 in the examinations either of the university (political rigorosa) or of the 

 State, and the number of courses obligatory on the students, do not allow 

 of an early specialisation. ' But a glance at the nature of the examination, 



' This, as Professor von Slilewski contends, interferes with the scientific character 



B B 2 



